what can I give my dog for arthritis?
Posted by Aden on March 11th, 2010
I have a small male dog he is going to be 17teen years old on April 15th and has been limping for 1 and 1/2 weeks it might be Arthritis what can I do for him is there anything I can give him like Asprin , please help me out just a little concerned about him …
March 11th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
For long term pain relief go to the vet and he/she will prescribe “Rimadyl”. It’s a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. Aspirin is okay to give (in a younger dog), but does have some bad side effects when given for a long period of time. If you do still want to use something like Aspirin or Buffered Aspirin, or Ascriptian you need to talk with your vet for the right dosage for your dog because of he’s age. Since he is limping, you need to go to the vet it may not be JUST arthritis.
March 11th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Our 7 and a half year old mixed breed started to stiffen up as well. We took him to the vet and was recommended OsteoEze. Depending on where you live (I’m in Australia) you could be able to be it at your Woolworths or Coles etc. It’s a human product but this one is safe for dogs. Small container, white with label on the front. One capsule once a day and you should start to notice a change. We’ve had our dog on it for a few weeks and he’s already got back the majority of his bounce and he moves a lot more easier now.
March 11th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
This is what made a HUGE difference to my dog:
http://www.trilogyonline.com/Trilogy/Pets/Supplements/Agility.aspx?realname=40027805&cat=0&hdr=&Ath=False
March 11th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Any elderly dog should have a liver function test before he takes anything at all – or you could easily kill him with the cure.
I would not give any old dog aspirin – it is very tough on their stomach, and there are much better alternatives now. Same with any product containing MSM – it is incredibly hard on the stomach, and he could end up in alot of pain.
The vet should see him before anything, and figure out why he’s limping. He could have several things going on, and he is fragile at his age.
First, do no harm…better to go slowly, than come to a crashing halt.
March 11th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Be very careful giving a dog asprin. It can be used sparingly under a vet’s care – but it is also very hard on their stomach and liver. My big dog gets 1/2 an asprin OCCASIONALLY – never on a regular basis.
There are Rx medicines that can be used for arthritis and/or dysplasia – from your vet.
There are also over the counter treatments such as “Osteo Bi-Flex” that you can get at any drug store. I’m not sure about the dosage for a small dog. My 65lb dog gets two of these a day. It could take up to 30 days to see any difference with the over the counter treatments.
With your dog being 17 years old, you probably should start considering her/his pain levels and if you can keep her/him comfortable or not.
March 12th, 2010 at 12:02 am
glucosamin… Sp? my vet reccommended something called SynoviG3 and they are chew able tablets. YOu can get them through 1800 petmeds or drs. foster or just about anywhere. There is also medicine but the vet told me to put my dog on it he would have to do test almost monthly on the liver.. try the “treats” first… also to make sure your dog will eat it see if you vet has some you can test..
March 12th, 2010 at 12:38 am
Before giving ANYTHING to a dog for any symptoms he should be seen by the vet. He’s been limping for almost 2 weeks, but how long has he been in pain before the limping showed up? Dogs can often be VERY stoic about showing pain, so he may have been in pain long before the limp showed up…
It MIGHT be arthritis, it MIGHT be something else. Only the vet can determine the problem and prescribe any necessary medications.
Please do not self diagnose your dog, especially at 17 yrs old.
March 12th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Yes, you can give your dog aspirin (check with your vet about dosage)
You could also try a joint supplement like Cosequin (http://www.1800petmeds.com/Cosequin-prod10317.html) or Adequan (http://www.1800petmeds.com/Adequan-prod10721.html)
March 12th, 2010 at 1:01 am
NEVER give your dog any over the counter human medication without first consulting your vet. There are some very good, safe products that your vet can prescribe
March 12th, 2010 at 1:08 am
Please do NOT give your dog any human medication without first consulting a vet. Even with the best intentions giving a dog human medication can seriously harm your dog and in some cases cause death.
Weight management. If your dog is over weight you need to help get that under control. With the extra weight its helping to make the arthritis worse. Don’t give your dog long walks. Walking can help a dog with arthritis, but short walks a few times a day is better then one long walk. Try doing 2-3.. 5 min walks to start out. Then work up to 2 10min walks a day.
Natural medication that is highly recommended is glucosamine, talk to your vet about it.
Talk to a local vet about water therapy and acupuncture. If either one is available in your area. Also in the summer you can take your dog swimming a few times a week to help out.
March 12th, 2010 at 1:28 am
Soft comfortable place to sleep
Your dog’s bed should be as comfortable as your own. An old mattress or soft couch is excellent. Soft foam rubber at least four inches thick is good. Scout around for an old baby mattress. Whatever arrangement you use, it’s much easier for large dogs to get up and down if you raise the bed about a foot off the floor.
Gentle, regular exercise
Provide limited, gentle exercise. Once around the block two or three times a day is about right. Avoid strenuous activity on the weekends alternating with little or none during the week.
Diet and Weight control
Make sure your dog is eating well but not getting overfed this can severly hurt him….
Good Luck!
March 12th, 2010 at 2:42 am
wow 17 years old. thats awesome. we used rimadyl for my arthritic lab. you should be able to get it from your vet. i dont know about any human meds you can give your dog. i wouldn’t chance it especially at his age. also try to keep him up and moving to keep his joints from getting too stiff. nothing strenuous but a nice easy walk would do some good. i would just talk to the vet and try to get some meds that could make him more comfortable. good luck
March 12th, 2010 at 3:10 am
Aspirin is sometimes prescribed for dogs, but I wouldn’t recommend it in a 17year old dog who has not been seen by a Vet. Arthritis doesn’t suddenly show up – it is a progressive disease. If you haven’t seen signs of arthritis in your dog previously, I wouldn’t just assume that that’s what he has.
There are numerous reasons why a dog could be limping. If the limp doesn’t go away after a day or two rest, then the dog needs to be seen by a Vet.
It’s very likely that regardless of the cause, your dog will need some sort of pain med. There are numerous safe and well studied meds designed just for dogs, and your Vet can prescribe one for him. These meds can not be given with other pain meds or steriods, so giving your dog aspirin at home will delay the start of these medications. Also, if you give your dog aspirin it can mask the dog’s symptoms of pain and make it more difficult for the Vet to determine where or what the problem is.
Bottom line: call the Vet and set up an appointment. After 17 years, I think that that’s the least you can do for a friend.